Leaks in the System

The document examines how Peru's regulatory framework for logging enables widespread illegal activity, which in turn threatens the success of REDD+ initiatives. It highlights that without national-scale reform, project-based efforts to reduce emissions will be negated by leakage and reversals.

• Illegal logging is pervasive in Peru, with some estimates suggesting it accounts for as much as 80% of exported timber. This activity contributes significantly to deforestation, which represents nearly half of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
• Peru's legal logging concession system, established by the 2000 Forestry Law and reinforced by the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, is described as enabling rather than curbing illegal logging. Data indicates that 68.3% of supervised logging concessions have been cancelled for major violations or are under investigation for violations that could lead to cancellation.
• Illegal logging is facilitated by systemic flaws in the regulatory framework, including the use of 'irregular' permits approved by corrupt officials to harvest timber from unauthorized areas. Furthermore, the lack of inspection at the point of harvest allows permits to be traded and decoupled from their specific concession areas.
• Illegal logging specifically compromises two UNFCCC REDD+ safeguards: leakage (safeguard g) and permanence (safeguard f). Systemic regulatory failures mean that emissions reductions in one REDD+ project area may simply be displaced to another area (leakage), and protected areas remain at risk of future illegal logging (lack of permanence).
• The document argues that project-based REDD+ efforts in regions like Loreto and Madre de Dios are insufficient because they do not address national-scale systemic issues. It suggests that the UNFCCC should provide international guidance on Safeguards Information Systems (SIS) to help countries identify and address the drivers of illegal logging and the effectiveness of their legal frameworks.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). Leaks in the System. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Leaks_Peru_Nov2014.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Leaks in the System. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Leaks_Peru_Nov2014.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Leaks in the System |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Leaks_Peru_Nov2014.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndleaks, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Leaks in the System}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Leaks_Peru_Nov2014.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }